text:
Social media giant Meta has appointed Vikas Purohit as the company’s director of the global business group in India. Purohit will lead the strategy of working with Meta’s advertisers and agency partners. The company even shared a statement to confirm the new appointment. As per the statement, Purohit will strive to drive Meta’s revenue growth across key channels in India by deepening relationships with the country’s leading brands and advertising agencies.
He will also have to work towards accelerating the adoption of digital tools by the largest advertisers and agencies. According to a report by ETtech, Meta’s key business verticals, agency teams, and business solutions teams will report to Purohit, while he will report to Arun Srinivas, director and head of ads business for Meta in India.Vikas Purohit: Career overview
Purohit has more than 20 years of experience in senior business, sales and marketing roles at multiple companies. These organisations include -- Tata Cliq, Amazon, Reliance Brands Limited, Tommy Hilfiger and Aditya Birla Group. Purohit started his career at the Aditya Birla group before joining Tommy Hilfiger and later headed retail at Reliance Brands Limited.
He also played a crucial role in leading and building Amazon Fashion during his Amazon days. Purohit’s latest stint was at Tata Cliq. At Tata Cliq, Purohit joined as the chief operating officer before moving on to become the chief executive officer. In ) October 2022, he resigned as the CEO of Tata Cliq.
Meta India’s director and head of ads business, Arun Srinivas mentioned that the company is “committed to enabling economic opportunities for businesses”. Srinivas also explained that this “charter” is very important as the company navigates global economic headwinds.
He claimed that India’s largest businesses and agencies are not only building innovative business models but are also playing an important role in the country’s expanding digital economy. Srinivas has also welcomed Purohit in his statement.Also Watch:
Whatsapp introduces Accidental Delete feature: Here's how to use it


text:
Mumm Napa is the official sparkling wine of the America’s Cup Summer of Racing in San Francisco. From the opening ceremonies on July 4th through the final races in September, Mumm Napa sparkling wines will be on hand. “We raise a glass to the incredible athletes of the America’s Cup and commend them all on their relentless pursuit of victory,” said Mumm Napa Managing Director Simon Towns.
“We are so pleased to bring the spirit of Mumm Napa, the spirit that celebrates every day luxury, to the America’s Cup, especially since it is to be raced on the iconic San Francisco Bay. It is an honor to be a part of the palpable feeling of celebration and luxury that is synonymous with the event.”
Spectators can celebrate with a glass of Mumm Napa sparkling wine on shore throughout the summer at the America’s Cup Park (Piers 27/29) venues and general concessions, the America’s Cup Village at Marina Green, and on official on-water viewing boats. VIPs and sailors alike will also have the chance to indulge in Napa’s quintessential sparkling wine at the exclusive CLUB72 and America’s Cup Club.
At America’s Cup Park, the public is invited to visit the Mumm Napa pop-up sparkling wine lounge Flute Bar & Lounge by Mumm Napa. In the 1,500 sq. ft. lounge, spectators can enjoy views of the races from both indoor and outdoor vantage points. Inside, fans will be able to view the action on the water from both sides of the lounge. Visitors wanting to take in the iconic views of San Francisco Bay while getting some sun can also be seated at the outdoor patio. Flute Bar & Lounge by Mumm Napa will be open to the public starting July 4 from 10am-7pm on race days and from 12pm – 5pm on non-race days.

domain: news


text:
Contest sponsored by PBS' "Design Squad Nation" challenges young engineers to build big. And they do, crafting a confetti-launching trebuchet, and a solar-powered hot tub, among other creations.
In an interview, the head of Redmond's entertainment talks with CNET's Ina Fried about everything from the Xbox to the future of tablets.
In a reorganization, division chief Robbie Bach and CTO J. Allard are both leaving, with Microsoft splitting the entertainment and devices business into parts.
In an interview, the president of Microsoft's entertainment unit answers some (but not all) of our questions on what Microsoft has cooking on the consumer hardware front.
The 1980s physics classic is revisited 28 years later.
The head of the software giant's entertainment unit talks about key efforts in the consumer arena, including getting that movie you bought to play on multiple gadgets.
Most of us envision the composer as an old man with a white, curly wig. Instead, think big bones with a slight underbite and short hair.
Microsoft's entertainment unit boss visited a high school and sat down with Seattle-area reporters on Friday, fielding questions on several hot topics.
Entertainment and Devices President Robbie Bach insists to financial analysts that, given a second chance, the company would still do the Zune.
Entertainment and devices unit chief says Microsoft is more than ready for any competition posed by Google's approach.


text:
More on KFM
Shopper safety in spotlight ahead of Black Friday, festive season
Business Against Crime's Andrew Anthony adds many retailers are ramping up security.
Family of kidnapped CT businessman still hopeful of his safe return
Police Minister Bheki Cele visited the family of Liyaqat Parker on Friday and told them that kidnapping has now been prioritised as one of the top-four crimes in the country.


text:
The time has come to see the first major update to the Jeep® brand’s beloved Gladiator (JT) midsized pickup truck. Scheduled to be unveiled this morning at 11:05 a.m. EDT at the Detroit Auto Show, you can participate in the unveil by watching the livestream below.
This past weekend, Jeep teased enthusiasts with teasers on social media about the updated Gladiator making its way to Detroit.
The 2024 Jeep Gladiator is expected to inherit a range of impressive features introduced in the 2024 Jeep Wrangler (JL), already available at dealerships. These enhancements include a striking new grille design, a stealthy radio antenna, and a state-of-the-art 12.3-inch Uconnect 5 touchscreen radio. Additionally, enthusiasts can look forward to optional 12-way power-adjustable front seats, a redesigned instrument panel, and the introduction of an 8,000-pound Warn winch option. Perhaps the most anticipated upgrade is the Dana 44 HD full float solid rear axle, promising enhanced performance and durability.
One burning question on enthusiasts’ minds is whether the Wrangler 4xe’s hybrid powertrain will make its way into the Gladiator. With Jeep’s ambitious goal to electrify their entire North American lineup by the end of 2025, speculation abounds regarding a potential surprise announcement at the Detroit show. Jeep, however, has remained tight-lipped on this matter, leaving us all in suspense.
Stay tuned for comprehensive coverage of the updated 2024 Jeep Gladiator, delivered straight from the floor of the Detroit Auto Show. Moreover, ordering for the new 2024 Jeep Gladiator is also expected to open today, ensuring that enthusiasts can get their hands on the 2024 model by the end of the year.


text:
AliExpress, the international online retail marketplace operated by Alibaba International Digital Commerce Group, is celebrating its collaboration with actress and comedian Tiffany Haddish by embarking on a pop-up store “tour” around Los Angeles.
The tour is AliExpress’ first foray into the U.S., and each store will feature interactive elements, personal shopping concierges and variety of products, from e-bikes to smart watches to home goods. Shoppers also will get to browse Haddish’s curated AliExpress collection, which will be exclusively available in a virtual showroom on AliExpress.com and will tout a selection of her favorite wellness, beauty, tech and fashion products.
Store visitors will even get to participate in contests, including a chance to win a dorm room makeover, spin a prize wheel to win thousands of dollars in instant prizes and several golden tickets worth up to $1,000.
“The AliExpress Pop-Up Tour is an immersive shopping experience packed with interactive elements and unique, on-trend products consumers will love,” said Chris Carl, Head of Marketing for AliExpress U.S. in a statement. “We’re thrilled to be teaming up with Tiffany to debut this unique experience and introduce AliExpress throughout Los Angeles and the U.S.”
The tour will begin at the Grove West Hollywood on Aug. 19-20, with a live appearance from Haddish, and then travel to Santa Monica Pier on Aug. 22-23 and Glendale Galleria on Aug. 25-27.


text:
Often, when people think about public relations, they think about major national media attention or scandals that throw once-trusted brands into chaos. But there are moments, even on the biggest of stages, that PR can get very personal.
I’m not talking about being forced to answer embarrassing questions or being publicly “outed” in a humiliating way. I’m talking about the inherent tunneling that can happen during an interview, the connection between the interviewer and their subject that pushes out the world and can make … READ MORE Â»
It’s not as good, but it’s still pretty good — that’s essentially the message being sent by MoviePass CEO Mitch Lowe as he makes the rounds to try to put an end to a runaway train of negative publicity careening into his brand.
After weeks of disastrous press and growing consumer discontent, MoviePass is working diligently to dig out of a deepening public relations hole. So far, those efforts are having mixed results. But fundamental economics have forced MoviePass into this situation. The company’s … READ MORE Â»
We all get them, but how much thought do you put into the potential of push notifications to enhance or detract from your brand? Consider this: two of the most important dynamics in any brand relationship are number of connections and immediacy of action. Push notifications invite both increased connections and compelling reasons to take immediate action on a brand message.
Better still, when set up properly, the end user themselves is the one who invites the push notifications, whether it’s a reminder, a … READ MORE Â»
With midterm elections looming, the folks at Facebook are still desperately trying to reverse a cataclysmic loss of consumer trust thanks to a massive privacy scandal that revealed a myriad of issues with the social media giant. Along those lines, the company is offering a unique level of transparency into its battle against hackers and other bad actors on the platform. The question, though, is will these actions be enough to mollify an increasingly distrustful public.
In a recent report, Facebook is said to have … READ MORE Â»
The same week Twitter came under withering fire from Republicans and others over allegations the social platform was “shadow-banning” some conservative users, Twitter received another gut punch, this time from Wall Street.
As the platform has focused on “cleaning up” its user base, Twitter is enjoying fewer active monthly users than expected, and that has the company’s stock price falling. Twitter told concerned investors that the company expected some of this to happen as they focus their attention on “purging automated and spam … READ MORE Â»
Exclusivity is a vital component of any luxury brand’s marketing message, so it should come as no surprise that some brands go to extreme ends to protect that exclusivity. But those efforts do not always sit well with the consumer public, and that can create some PR tension for the brand, especially if it mishandles the messaging related to the issue.
A recent example of this is the upscale British fashion brand, Burberry. It’s well known that Burberry is targeted at a certain, … READ MORE Â»
Coming right on the heels of the landmark announcement that Tesla had “done it,” the company had created a fully electric family car for a middle-class budget, Tesla was forced to admit production wasn’t quite where they wanted it to be. As it turned out, they were way behind, but they were still taking pre-orders.
The company asked anxious customers to be patient, that they would solve their production problems. Now, it seems, they have. But it’s too little too late for some, … READ MORE Â»
Having a strong PR strategy is crucial within the hotel industry. Hotels are all about experience, and customers want to know that they can trust the company that’s going to be looking after them – whether it’s for a night or two weeks of vacation fun. In a field as highly competitive as hospitality, the right PR strategy is the best way for today’s international hotels to get ahead of the game.
Of course, planning the right campaign is often easier than … READ MORE Â»
As the world of audio continues to capture the attention of the public, marketing experts must think carefully about how they can connect with their audience. Whether it’s the lure of smart speakers or audio books there, seem to be countless ways to engage people through audio these days. Companies simply need to discover the best way to get their voices heard.
The good news is that investing in audio content isn’t as complicated as it seems. In fact, there are plenty of … READ MORE Â»
Sometimes, companies need to do something dramatic if they want to get some attention in an overly-saturated marketplace. In a world where everyone is shouting over each other to earn the interest of the same customers, it’s difficult to make a lasting impression. IHOP responded to that problem by changing their name for a short while to “IHOb”.
Initially, the business known for its pancakes simply changed their name without telling people why they were making the transformation. Obviously, this mystery alone was … READ MORE Â»
“PR is a mix of journalism, psychology, and lawyering - it’s an ever-changing and always interesting landscape.”
Ronn Torossian, CEO of 5WPR
"In the long run it's the daily actions of a brand that determines its overall image."
Ronn Torossian, CEO of 5WPR
"Talk isn't cheap - it's undervalued."
Ronn Torossian, CEO of 5WPR
"A company that knows itself can capitalize on its strengths and see competitive advantages where other might see weaknesses."Ronn Torossian, CEO of 5WPR
Follow Ronn on Instagram
Follow Ronn on Twitter
Ronn Torossian is the CEO of 5WPR and author of best selling PR book, For Immediate Release: Shape Minds, Build Brands, and Deliver Results with Game-Changing Public Relations, and a regular contributor to Fox News, Huffington Post, Business Insider, Insights Wired, Everything-PR and more.


text:
Brigitte Kleine, the U.S. president of Alexander McQueen, announced her resignation on Thursday to join Michael Kors Inc. as president of the Michael Kors Collection women’s division. She is the first top executive to resign from Gucci Group since the announcement on Tuesday that Tom Ford and Domenico De Sole would not renew their contracts with the company.
Kleine could not be reached, but sources familiar with the situation said the deal came up quickly — within days, not weeks — although it could not be learned whether her departure was directly related to Ford’s and De Sole’s resignations.
Kleine, who joined McQueen in January 2002 as part of Gucci’s U.S. expansion of its emerging brands, oversaw the company’s retail strategy in America, including the opening of the McQueen store on West 14th Street in Manhattan and its growth within department stores. She is also a longtime veteran of Donna Karan International, and the latest of numerous hires from the staff of that company’s former chief executive, John Idol, who is widely expected to join Kors once Jones Apparel Group completes its acquisition of Kasper A.S.L., where he is currently ceo.
She will become president of the women’s collection at Kors on Dec. 8, taking on responsibilities that have been handled by a consultant, Susan Sokol, since March. Sokol, president of SLS Consulting, will continue to work with the company on an interim basis, according to a spokeswoman for Kors.
Prior to joining McQueen, Kleine was president of international and licensing at Karan, where she held various positions since 1993. At McQueen, her full title was president of the Americas, wholesale and retail.
“I was blown away by her energy, enthusiasm and knowledge,” Kors said in a statement. “She brings a great deal of international experience to the table.”
Michael Kors has hired nearly a dozen top executives in recent months. It is staffing up for what is expected to be a major expansion of its collection business and the wide-scale introduction of its better-priced Michael collection next year for fall 2004 retailing, plans that were initiated since the firm was acquired by Sportswear Holdings Ltd. in January.Gia Castrogiovanni, the former chief operating officer of Mossimo Inc., was named president of the Michael women’s collection, and Anna Bakst, another Karan alum, was named president of Michael Kors accessories. Don Witkowski was named president of all its men’s collections.
While many of the hires have been focused on the development of the Michael collection, which is being done in-house, the appointment of a president for the women’s designer line on Thursday underscores several recent moves to bolster its position on the luxury front as well.
Lawrence Stroll, co-chairman of Sportswear Holdings, stressed the collection business on Thursday at the WWD/DNR CEO Summit, saying that the company is close to signing a lease in Los Angeles for its second designer line store, and that it is developing a new in-store shop concept for high-end retailers.
My character, Dinah Madani, is just the coolest, [most] badass woman imaginable," says @amberroserevah. The actress stars in @marvel's newest series on @netflix, @thepunisher. To prepare for her role, Revah sat down with Homeland agents to get a real sense of with Dinah's day-to-day life is really like. Read our full interview on WWD.com. #wwdeye (📷: @jilliansollazzo)
A scene from the 91st annual @macys Thanksgiving Day Parade. The parade, which boasts 50 million TV viewers and 3.5 million on-site spectators, is considered one of the largest and most watched parades in the world. (📷: Jason Szenes/EPA-REX)
The circus came to @bloomingdales 59th Street on Tuesday night and lit up Lexington Avenue with acrobatic dancers, death-defying knife throwing, sword swallowing and aerial acts with no net. The 45 minutes of theatrics built up to unveiling the holiday windows depicting @swarovski crystal-encrusted circus pieces and scenes from “The Greatest Showman” – songs from the soundtrack included. See the rest of the photos on WWD.com #wwdfashion (📷: Joshua Scott)
The psychedelic fashion that pervaded the ’60s is back with an exhibit at the @museumofcityny. “Mode New York: Fashion Takes a Trip” chronicles the changing styles from 1960 through 1973 and features designers such as @ysl, @oscardelarenta and more. The exhibition, which is on display through April 1, is organized into four periods: First Lady Fasion, Youthquake, New Bohemia and New Nonchalance. Pictured here is model Pat Bardonella during the Garvey Day Parade in 1968. (📷: @kwamebphoto) #wwdeye #wwdfashion
“People should be a lot more honest in expressing both the dark and light of themselves. We need to give each other the space to do that because it’s the only way we can grow and evolve,” says @noelwells of her new film “Mr. Roosevelt,” which is largely based on her own struggles. Unexpectedly leaving @nbcsnl in 2014 after just one season, Wells felt set back in her self-esteem and career trajectory. She quickly refocused her energy to more personal projects, which led to the completion of “Mr. Roosevelt.” Read the rest of WWD’s interview with the “Master of None” actress on WWD.com #wwdeye (📷: @jilliansollazzo)
@barbrastreisand is giving fans a chance to see her perform up close in a new concert series, which makes its debut on @Netflix today. From behind-the-scenes takes to her concert performance in Miami last December, the two-hour streaming special captures Streisand in her element. Pictured here is the singer/actress photographed for WWD in 1963. (📷: Palmieri Tony) #wwdeye #wwdarchive
@chanel and @pharrell dropped what’s being dubbed as the world’s most exclusive sneakers yesterday. The Adidas Originals NMD Hu, which Williams designed in collaboration with Chanel and @adidasoriginals, has a waiting list of over 120K people who pre-registered online at chanelatcolette.fr –– and only 500 pairs are on sale. The singer predicted the resale value of the shoes could reach $40K. Read the full interview on WWD.com. Link in bio. #wwdfashion (📷: Dominique Maître)
@imanshumpert is diving deeper into his creative endeavors and relaunching his clothing line, Post 90s, and is helping to raise money for the hurricane victims in St. Maarten with a jersey he’s designed with his brother. The Cleveland Cavaliers player talked to WWD about kneeling during the national anthem, working with fashion brands and how he wants to be more than an @nba player. Read the interview on WWD.com #wwdfashion (📷: George Chinese)


text:
Dairy Checkoff working with NFL to reach consumers
The Dairy Checkoff has announced new initiatives that will provide opportunities for consumers and children to engage with dairy and learn about the industry’s sustainability efforts. The Dairy Checkoff will be working with the National Football league (NFL) to achieve these goals.
The efforts include the Smoothie Blitz, created in partnership with the checkoff-led Fuel Up to Play 60 program. The Smoothie Blitz Program will leverage the star power and influence of high-profile NFL players, who will square off in a bracket-style tournament to see who can create the best dairy-based smoothie. Players will feature their signature smoothie recipes during 60-second videos that will live on their social media and Dairy Management Inc.’s “Dairy Good” channels. Fans will vote on their favorite to determine who advances to the championship round, exponentially growing the exposure of these videos.
The new Undeniably Dairy “Farming to the Future” Virtual Field Trip with Discovery Education seek to highlight dairy’s unique health and wellness benefits, as well as farmers’ commitment to the planet, and encourage consumers to be engaged even during the pandemic. The virtual field trip features dairy farmers showcasing their animal care and environmental commitments and a visit from a sports dietitian, who speaks to how dairy can help build strong bodies. Celebrity chefs will also deliver the message of how dairy farmers are helping to feed the population.
“These efforts are about continuing momentum of the idea that dairy is an important part of everyday life,” said Beth Engelmann, chief operations officer of Dairy Management Inc. (DMI). “With an added focus on the holistic wellness that today’s generation craves, we’re showcasing how dairy contributes to your mind and body in a variety of ways. We’re also showcasing that farmers make these products possible through practices that are good for their animals and the environment.”
Check out more information about these programs here.


text:
Watkins Glen International extends sports-car partnership with Sahlen Packing Company
Sahlen's hot dogs, auto racing and an early Fourth of July celebration. That traditional American fit will continue at Watkins Glen International.
WGI and Sahlen Packing Company, Inc., have renewed their partnership for the track's sports-car race weekend, with Sahlen continuing as title sponsor of the Sahlen's Six Hours of The Glen in a multiyear deal announced Monday by the Schuyler County racetrack.
The road course will host the annual IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship event from June 27 to 30 this year. The weekend will also feature the Michelin Pilot Challenge Series, Lamborghini Super Trofeo and Porsche GT3 Cup.
The Six Hours of The Glen is one of four races in the Michelin Endurance Cup, which includes the top endurance races on the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship schedule. The first event was last weekend's Rolex 24 at Daytona.
Sahlen, founded in 1869, is a family business in Buffalo. Along with hot dogs and hams, the company features other meat products that are sold in more than 30 states.
“Celebrating this amazing partnership with Sahlen’s during their 150th anniversary is awesome,” WGI President Michael Printup said in a press release. “Sahlen’s proximity to our track as a Buffalo-based company is of great value to everyone involved. We appreciate Joe Sahlen and Sahlen Packing Company for being strong supporters of The Glen, racing and our fans.”
Sahlen's became the race's title sponsor in 2003. The Sahlen's Six Hours of The Glen is among the top sports-car events in North America and one of WGI's featured weekends each year. Sahlen's also sponsors the Tailgate Zone at WGIand the Sahlen's Pit Inn at Turn 11.
“This is a momentous occasion for us,” Sahlen Packing Company owner Joe Sahlen said in the release. “Celebrating our 150th year as a family owned and operated business is something the Sahlen family and all of our employees are very proud of. Continuing our relationship with The Glen puts our name in front of a loyal, passionate fan base and helps with brand recognition as we continue to expand our products to retailers across the country.”
For ticket and camping information, call 888-461-7223 or visit theglen.com.
Follow Andrew Legare on Twitter @SGAndrewLegare. Support our journalism and become a digital subscriber today. Click here for our special offers.
More:Watkins Glen International to host Woodstock anniversary show in August
More:Former Elmira High star Tyler Moffe elevates his game at Division II Mansfield University
More:Ithaca, Odessa-Montour, Campbell-Savona capture team titles at Elmira swim invite


text:
Throwing a twist into the raging search wars, Amazon’s A9.com search site is pushing an open format that allows vertical search results to be widely syndicated in a manner similar to a popular approach for cross-pollinating blogs and news feeds.
A9.com launched OpenSearch, which it bills as “a collection of technologies, all built on top of popular open standards, to allow content providers to publish their search results in a format suitable for syndication.”
The idea is that any site that has content and a search box can return results in the OpenSearch format and that any content provider can get results from its own store of data listed on a search aggregator site.
Real Simple Syndication
On A9.com, the technology manifests itself this way: A long and growing list of search columns has been added to the search page. Those columns enable a search to be targeted in various databases, such as the New York Times, NASA, or Google’s image database. After a keyword is searched for, results can be toggled between the columns with a single click.
Outside of A9, the open technology enables a blog publisher or any other content site to integrate the same search buttons onto his or her own site.
The idea is to use the premise and technology of the popular Real Simple Syndication (RSS) that enables blogs and news feeds to be propagated into different Web sites without disrupting code or unknowingly altering the appearance of a site.
“We want OpenSearch to do for search what RSS has done for content,” Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos said in announcing the technology.
Early versions of the OpenSearch tools are now available, with A9 promising more to come soon.
“In short, if you have a content site, you can syndicate searches of that content through A9,” University of California professor and search blogger John Battelle wrote after seeing a preview of the technology.
Battelle has already integrated several of the search buttons onto his own blog page. He called the technology “a neat idea, one that I think will evolve and shift over time.”
In the model, sites such as A9 and others that use the OpenSearch format become search “aggregators” where numerous vertical search opportunities can be presented together.
“Any site that has content — and a search box — can choose to return results in OpenSearch RSS,” the explanation on A9.com reads. “This includes travel sites, classifieds, encyclopedias. … If you can provide search results for something, it probably can fit into the OpenSearch model. OpenSearch is not a search engine — it is a way for search engines to publish their search results in a standard and accessible format.”
Search Engine Watch editor Danny Sullivan said the technology offers “an alternative” to existing approaches, and because it is based on readily available and non-proprietary technologies, is an idea that can be duplicated by others.
Sullivan said the result is “an open format that will enable search results to be displayed anywhere, anytime.”
Others said the development was a reminder that search engine technology is still likely to evolve rapidly and even change completely, in some cases with smaller players providing the innovation.
“Search is relatively new and novel enough that people probably aren’t wed to any single way of doing it,” Forrester Research analyst Charlene Li told the E-Commerce Times. “That leaves room for innovators to offer completely new approaches that might set the industry on its ear.”
In fact, Li said one of the main challenges facing search engines is finding a way to build user loyalty to prevent defection to other established search tools or emerging technologies. Forrester predicts that a wave of “search specialists” will eventually begin to wrest market share away from the search leaders.
The A9 announcement came within a day of Microsoft announcing that it had developed its own paid search results technology that will use demographic information to enable advertisers to tightly target consumers. That product will be aimed at the lucrative paid search market, which Yahoo and Google currently dominate.


text:
Snap selects Samba TV as measurement partner
January 3, 2024
Samba TV, a provider of TV technology for audience data and omniscreen measurement, has announced a strategic partnership with Snap, creator of social media app Snapchat.
To help brands further understand the value of advertising on Snapchat, the company has tapped Samba TV to provide outcome measurement to Snap advertisers in the entertainment vertical. Samba TV has a global footprint, including coverage for all of the major walled gardens, more than 200 national networks in the US, local networks in more than 100 US DMAs, as well as more than 400 digital publishers.
As a result of the partnership, media and entertainment brands advertising on Snapchat can measure conversion outcomes using Samba TV’s currency-grade VTR solution to gain a clear understanding of how their campaigns drive new viewers to linear and streaming programmes, and measure lift across their media strategies. Snapchat advertisers can also utilise Samba TV’s data to make more holistic and data-driven decisions to optimise their spending on the social media platform.
“As a world-renowned social platform with a devoted audience, Snapchat is a powerful medium for promoting new entertainment options and brands in general,” said Samba TV Co-founder and CEO Ashwin Navin. “Our measurement reveals the best practices for how to leverage Snap for discoverability and brand engagement with a unique demographic accessible on the platform. With over three quarters of Gen Z and millennials discovering new shows and movies from these platforms alone, Snapchat has emerged as an essential partner in marketers’ overall media strategy.”
“Companies around the world are tapping into the unique audience and value of Snap as an advertising channel for media and entertainment brands,” said Christopher Plambeck, Head of Marketing Science at Snap Inc. “Therefore, it’s crucial we have accurate and holistic measurement of the impact of advertising on tune-ins for our brands. By leveraging Samba TV’s television and streaming measurement capabilities, our advertisers can better optimise their tune-in campaigns to more fully understand campaign impact and ROAS.”


text:
News: After a poor quarter, Majesco shuffles it's release schedule.
Majesco has revealed it's financial data for the quarter ending July 31 and it's not pretty. With lower than expected sales from Psychonauts and Advent Rising resulted in a loss of $38.6 million for the quarter.
Majesco also revealed that Infected for the PSP was pushed back to late 2005 and Jaws for the PS2, Xbox and PC was pushed back to early 2006.
Majesco has also said that in light of this loss they plan to reevaluate their business plan and focus on more budget titles as opposed to expected blockbusters like Advent Rising and Psychonauts.
No cancellations were announced on any of Majesco's current titles, but we'll stay on top of it.


text:
RECOMMENDED FOR YOU:X
How Dan Rosenthal is Greening Chicago’s Restaurant Industry
Rosenthal has also initiated a long list of greening efforts that stretch beyond the Co-op. All seven of his restaurants have passed the test to become certified green by the Coop, and he plans to certify an eigth restaurant to open this year. Last year on Earth Day, he introduced the city’s first Zap solar-electric powered delivery van for his Soprafina Marketcaffes.
After finishing the restaurant topic of his Green Talk, Rosenthal spoke about some very exciting news that could really bring change to Chicago. Last year, Rosenthal started a new venture called Chicago Composts LLC and submitted a proposal to the Chicago Department of Environment in hopes of receiving a grant of up to $100,000. The large-scale proposal plans to use food waste from area restaurants and commercial food producers to produce and sell high-end compost suitable for use in food production. Rosenthal stated that this food waste composting facility is slated to open by the end of the year and will be the largest of its kind in the nation!
Browse by Keyword


text:
Kang Daniel Graces 'RayLi' Magazine As The First Koren Male Cover
Kang Daniel sets the record for the history of the Chinese fashion magazine RayLi as the first Korean male cover of its January 2021 issue.
Kang Daniel x RayLi
The WANNA ONE member was unveiled by the Chinese fashion magazine RayLi as the cover artist for its January 2021 issue. It features Kang Daniel in two covers, where the Waves singer graced with sophistication.
Furthermore, Allkpop stated that Kang Daniel's appearance on RayLi hails him as the first South Korean male artist to be on the feature since it started its publication 26 years ago.
Aside from Kang Daniel, South Korean female artists appeared on the cover, namely f(x)'s Krystal and Girls' Generation's YoonA.
YoonA is the first-ever South Korean artists to be on the cover of RayLi, also gracing a New Year issue of the magazine.
Kang Daniel nails the photoshoot with RayLi
RayLi is among the top-read and most-sought fashion magazines in China; its publications make their way to more than 10 million readers. Undoubtedly, Kang Daniel, as the magazine cover, shows the intense existence of the idol in the country.
In the previews released by RayLi, Kang Daniel can be seen wearing various outfits. From coats, suits to traditional Chinese-inspired patterns, making Kang Daniel look more fascinating.
But one photo that stands out is when Kang Daniel wore a light magenta suit as if it's like he is a soaring bird that flies its way to the dawn of night, per Weixin.
In an interview with RayLi, Kang Daniel opened up about his career and his music. He mentioned that he is wrapping up an album, revealing that the song he is currently working is his new favorite song.
Meanwhile, Kang Daniel's RayLi stint is his first non-Korean fashion magazine cover. Check out the previews of Kang Daniel's cover for RayLi here!
- Kang Daniel Shows Off His Generosity By Donating 35,000 Albums To Charity
- 'UNIVERSE' Hails Kang Daniel As Its First Solo Runner, Adds (G)I-DLE As The Fifth Artist
- W Korea Features Artists For A Special Issue: Kang Daniel, Sandara Park, Park Min Young, Park Shin Hye, & More
Copyright © 2020 Kpop Reporter. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.


text:
The impact of the coronavirus is shifting daily, as the number of confirmed cases and deaths continues to rise and governments and companies around the globe take steps to address the epidemic.
Now officially named COVID-19 (Corona Virus Disease ’19) by the World Health Organization, the virus has killed nearly 1,400 people and infected more than 60,000, with 447 cases outside China, based on figures released the World Health Organization Thursday.
And WHO executive director of health emergencies, Dr. Mike Ryan, says it is still too early to predict the end of the outbreak.
As the impact of COVID-19 ripples across the globe, it is impacting travel brands across every sector from hospitality to air to cruise to tour operators.
While the ultimate outcome is unknown, it is clear the economic impact will be significant.
China’s travel market is now the largest in Asia and one of the fastest growing in the world, so the losses are expected to be much bigger than those from the 2003 SARS outbreak, which IATA estimates cost Asia Pacific carriers $6 billion in revenue and the National Center for Biotechnology Information says created a global economic loss of $40 billion.
On Wednesday the organizers of Mobile World Congress, an annual trade show in Barcelona that attracts 100,000 attendees, canceled the event citing “global concern regarding the coronavirus outbreak, travel concern and other circumstances, make it impossible for the GSMA to hold the event.”
Hilton has closed about 150 hotels totaling 33,000 rooms in China. On a call with analysts Tuesday to discuss the company’s latest earnings report, Hilton CEO and president Chris Nassetta says they anticipate a “$25 million to $50 million impact to full-year adjusted EBITDA” and a 1% drop in RevPAR – that is if the outbreak lasts “around three to six months with an additional three- to six-month recovery period.”
Nearly two dozen airlines, including American, United, Delta, Air France and British Airways, have cancelled all flights to mainland China, and many are continually pushing back the date when flights will resume.
IATA reports that, based on past years’ air traffic data for one week after the start of the Chinese New Year holiday, this year “daily passenger volumes were circa 40% lower compared to where we would expect them to be at the similar stage.”
And the cruise sector has captured much of the global coverage as passengers have been quarantined and ships kept out of ports. In reporting its 2019 full-year results, Royal Caribbean Cruises says, “If these travel restrictions and concerns over the outbreak continue for an extended period of time, they could have a material impact on the overall financial performance of the company.”
Carnival Corporation says much the same, “As a result of Coronavirus, the company believes the impact on its global bookings and cancelled voyages will have a material impact on its financial results which was not anticipated in the company’s previous 2020 earnings guidance.”
From the standpoint of revenue management, including pricing and forecasting, coronavirus is a massive challenge for the travel industry – affecting both the relevance of historic data, the ability to predict the future and the need to address cancellations in the present.
“It’s still very early days. The data we are collecting is continually evolving,” says Gary Torres, vice president of global delivery at Duetto.
“In a perfect world a forecast of a year is great. This is an unfortunate case where the coronavirus has upset the balance.”
Without a known end to the outbreak or even when travel restrictions will lift – along with the expectation that fear will have a lingering effect long after – Torres says Duetto is shifting to much shorter-term forecasting of just a few weeks ahead for hotel clients in China and Hong Kong and advising them to narrow their revenue forecasts through the end of Q2.
Torres says Duetto’s data shows a 29% increase in cancellations for hotel stays in China in January compared to 2019, and a decline 75% in rooms booked in January for stays in February, March and April. And the impact is being felt elsewhere – Torres says cancellations for properties in the Middle East are up 16%.
For airlines, Aditi Mehta, solutions strategy director at PROS, says it’s important that carriers have accurate data going into their revenue management solution and that they are taking a holistic view of their network so they will be prepared to resume full operations fast.
“This event isn’t necessarily unique though the impact is pretty large,” she says.
“Several years ago it was the volcano eruption in Iceland that disrupted travel in Europe for several weeks. Learning from that past situation of when travel demand came back and when they were able to resume operations, they can apply that data to future predictions.”
And while systems now use artificial intelligence and other technologies to automate much of the revenue management process, unexpected situations such as the coronavirus require what IDeaS global vice president of marketing Mike Chuma calls a “man plus machine” approach.
“This is where you have be more proactive as a revenue manager to ensure you are reading the signals of data that is coming in from your source markets and your future looks and books,” Chuma says.
“It’s that monitoring and that understanding of what’s happening in your surrounding areas, but also with influence from global macroeconomic conditions and knowing what segments impact your business that is going to help you work with the AI to be able to allow it to react.”
And IDeaS senior industry advisor Blake Madril says this proactive approach is necessary for both short- and long-term strategies.
“If I know my Chinese travelers are no longer coming to me, I need the system to forecast zero additional demand from that segment… and then retroactively what’s the type of special event, the length of special event, I need to build in order to reference this in the future or next year when we are looking at year-over-year comparison,” he says.
One strategy those we talked to advise against – dropping prices, since it can take months or even years to return to pre-crisis rates once demand rebounds.
“Demand is simply not there. People will not travel to a region if they think there is risk, even if the price is very attractive,” Torres says.
“Focus on pragmatic, customer-centric service. Look at large repeat businesses that have cancelled and maybe relaxing cancellation policies to attract them back in the future, rather than chasing nonexistent demand.”
And even once flights to and from China resume and travel restrictions are lifted, Madril says revenue managers still need to account for the apprehension that will linger among travelers.
“So people need to think about how they will make adjustments for the whole year,” he says.
“The industry has gotten used to flat is the new normal. We say that about ADR, but no one has been anticipating a drop in occupancy. We’ve just been under the assumption that more people around the world will travel more and more frequently, so there is a great risk of a knee-jerk reaction.
“It’s really important people are being mindful, taking that measured approach, thinking long-term and trying to recover as much as possible while they still have booking window runway.”
Source: PhocusWire, Gary Torres


text:
- Subscribe NowLimited Time Offer
Time: 18:00:00 - 20:00:00
Place: The Tech Shop San Jose
LinkedIn: NSA secrecy 'threatens the entire Internet'
LinkedIn Corp., the biggest professional social network, joined Web companies pushing back against prohibitions that keep them from telling the public how often the government makes national security queries about users.
The company made its arguments in a petition with the U.S. Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court and submitted an amicus brief with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
The filings represent the latest turn in the national security controversy spawned by Edward Snowden’s disclosures about government digital snooping. Web companies including Facebook Inc. and Google Inc. have argued that their businesses are being harmed because they can’t tell customers how much information they share with the government.
"LinkedIn’s commitment to transparency and member trust is all the more critical in the wake of recent revelations in the press and elsewhere regarding alleged secret government surveillance programs of American Internet and telecommunications companies and their users’ data and communications," LinkedIn wrote in a court filing. "This potential erosion of user trust threatens the entire Internet and technology sector, which has been the economic bright spot in America’s struggling economy for the last several years."
Yesterday, a Verizon executive began spinning out a counter narrative to the Web companies' protests that they'd like to share more information about government digital spying. Verizon President John Stratton said consumer Web companies are grandstanding by pushing back against government secrecy, trying to curry favor so as to not "offend the sensibilities of their customers."
Verizon itself has handed over user data to the National Security Agency, and Stratton said it's up to society to set rules that balance security and privacy.
Mountain View-based LinkedIn today also issued its most recent transparency report, covering the first half of 2013. That report discloses various types of government requests, but excludes those related to U.S. national security due to legal restrictions.
That report showed that the government made 70 requests for data on U.S. users, impacting 84 accounts. The U.K. government made the second-highest number of requests, with four queries affecting four accounts.
Full disclosure: I editorialized about the threat NSA digital snooping poses to Internet businesses last week.
Greg Baumann is editor in chief at the Silicon Valley Business Journal.
- Most popular
- Irvine Co. proposes 2,000-unit mixed-use village for Santa Clara
- Oracle's Ellison takes on Cisco's Chambers with price cuts
- China's Hainan Airlines plans San Jose-Beijing flights
- Jay Paul plots next big Sunnyvale buy in 47-acre Lockheed deal
- Stanford University leases entire apartment building in Los Altos
- Ex-Brocade CEO Michael Klayko takes over as CEO at AOptix
- Here are the big Box winners — and who was underwater at IPO price
- Apple executives Tim Cook, Angela Ahrendts made a lot in 2014
- EBay to cut 2,400 jobs across 3 of its businesses
- Google to become wireless carrier, a strategic move into mobile arena
UX Designer American City Business Journals | Charlotte, NC
Systems Engineer Finesse Solutions | Santa Clara, CA
Vice President Leasing McClellan Business Park, LLC | McClellan, CA
Store Manager 85°C Bakery Cafe | Milpitas, CA
Physician Account Executive - North Bay/Fairfield, CA Quest Diagnostics | San Jose, CA


text:
Microsoft admits it perpetuates its own bad image and is now working change public opinion.
Speaking at the Forrester Forum in London, Anthony Bay, general manager of Microsoft?s Internet services business unit, admitted the company has made lots of mistakes in the way it has done business with other companies. He said, ?We have entered business in a way that has confused and concerned people.?
Microsoft has used the Internet as an intermediary in lots of different areas, but public and industry perception paints it as taking over all these companies and markets rather than acting in partnership with them.
Bay said, ?We have allowed the perception of what we are doing to be coloured in a way that can?t explain how we work with lots of different companies.?
Bay believes there is real fear as the Net changes the way people live and work and that Microsoft has become a ?lightening rod for that fear.?
The highly-public Department of Justice cases has changed Microsoft, Bay said, ?It has made us aware that we need to work on the public perception of our business practices - that we are taking over every industry.?
Bay insisted however that this new awareness will not change the software giant?s overall strategy. ?Our goal won?t change, it won?t make us any less competitive,? he said.
Microsoft wants to be seen as being partner-focused. Bay said, ?Through partnering with the right companies we want to help customers to implement commerce rather than do commerce ourselves. Our fundamental business is to provide software to companies to do better business.?
One area where Microsoft is currently working with lots of different companies is in electronic payment systems. Bay said Microsoft is talking to various companies, including IBM, but will remain ?payment system agnostic.?
Dubbed Barnard's star B, newly discovered planet is believed to be rocky
Also, what's a USB stick?
Gravitational waves become extremely weak by the time they reach the Earth and require highly sensitive equipment for detection
The reactor topped out at 100 million° C


text:
From New Media Age
- Lord Stephen Carter admits Digital Britain report overlooked consumer issues
Lord Stephen Carter has acknowledged a lack of content about consumer issues such as privacy, internet neutrality and behavioural targeting within January's interim Digital Britain report
- BBC appoints first online access champion
The BBC has appointed its first online access champion in a bid to get more people to use its online services
- Pirate Bay founders receive jail sentence
A Swedish court has ruled the founders behind file sharing site The Pirate Bay guilty of assisting copyright infringement
From Marketing Direct
- Triumph launches Magic Wire bra with Twitter search for women's niggles
Triumph, the lingerie company, is launching a product called Magic Wire, backed by a campaign that invites women to share their routine irritations.
- Havas confirms King's Cross move
Havas has confirmed it will be moving all of its London agencies into a single site in King's Cross, after signing a deal for 3 Pancras Square.
- Havas UK revenue climbs 22% in Q2
Havas has reported income before tax of ?94 million (£74.2 million) across the first half of the year, up 5.6 per cent year on year, as UK revenues surged almost 20 per cent in the same period.
From The Telegraph
- Sci-fi inventions that the real world needs
Scientists have finally created a real-world version of Marty McFly's iconic hoverboard. What other gadgets from the pages of science-fiction would make the world a better place?
- How to save cash with Apple's Family Sharing feature
With the latest update to iOS Apple has generously allowed you to share music, apps and books with your family for free. No longer does a family of six need to buy six copies of The Beatles' catalogue, just one. Read our handy guide on how to set it up...
- Mac Mini teardown: in pictures
The iFixit team take apart the latest Mac Mini, Apple's most compact, affordable computer


text:
Ensure council has bank details for COVID-19 payments, businesses urged
Redditch Borough businesses in line to receive Coronavirus support payments from the Government are being urged to make sure they are able to receive the money from Tuesday April 7.
The money is set to automatically be paid into eligible business bank accounts – but only to eligible businesses whose bank details are already held by Redditch Borough Council, for example businesses that pay their business rates by Direct Debit or standing order.
Businesses that don’t pay by these methods will only receive their payments once the council is provided with some essential details.
Jayne Pickering, Redditch Borough Council’s Executive Director of Finance and Resources, said: “If you’re expecting this Government money and don’t currently pay your business rates by Direct Debit or standing order, we won’t have your bank details on file and so you will need to provide them for this money to be paid to you. Just submit the new online form we’ve developed for you and we will make payment automatically to you.
“Businesses whose bank details are already on file with us don’t need to do anything at all and we will make payments starting from this week.”
The Government recently announced as part of the national response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that it would pay £10,000 to all businesses that receive small business rate relief, and up to £25,000 to eligible businesses in the retail, hospitality, and leisure sectors depending on their rateable value.
The money is now available and BACS transfers of those payments are expected to start to eligible Redditch Borough businesses with validated bank details from this week.


text:
Air Canada may be reducing its operating schedule in response to the Covid-19 situation, but its fleet will not be sitting idle. The airline, through its Air Canada Cargo division, has begun using its aircraft to operate cargo-only flights to Europe, with other flights planned for Latin America and South America. These aircraft will be used to transport time-sensitive shipments, including medical supplies to combat Covid-19, and goods to support the global economy.
The first cargo-only flights departed from Toronto this past week for Frankfurt, London and Amsterdam, which are all important business centres and connection points for onward cargo shipments. The flights were operated using Boeing 787 aircraft capable of carrying 35 tonnes of cargo – the equivalent of about 80 grand pianos.
Shippers and freight forwarders using the service are charged a flat rate for both directions, and Air Canada Cargo is also introducing a fractional programme so that shippers who do not require a whole aircraft can book space. The arrangements with the shippers and freight forwarders contain clear provisions to ensure that these essential goods are being sold at fair market rates and to authorised suppliers.
“Although we have announced very significant temporary capacity reductions and our passenger flights are largely dedicated to bringing Canadians home, Air Canada’s aircraft and our expertise in handling cargo are valuable assets that we can use to move medical supplies and other essential goods to keep the world economy going. We have already begun flights to Europe, and we are planning to expand this programme to Latin America and South America, as well as within Canada, including remote communities using Air Canada Express aircraft. In addition to providing a much-needed service, these cargo-only flights are also supporting jobs at Air Canada,” said Tim Strauss, VP of cargo at Air Canada.
Air Canada Cargo is now exploring opportunities to offer this service domestically and is working with various governments to assess the demand and assist in moving relief goods from multiple markets within Canada. This includes using smaller Air Canada Express regional aircraft to operate to less-well served, smaller or remote regions in Canada with medical and other emergency supplies in support of local governments.
Air Canada does not operate cargo aircraft; instead its Air Canada Cargo division typically manages and markets excess belly space on the airline’s regular passenger flights for shippers operating worldwide. To facilitate the cargo-only flights, Air Canada Cargo has created five segment-specific sales teams to focus on the needs of customers at different levels in the supply chain.


text:
After a shocking decline of close to 18% in April, retail sales at physical stores have seen a rebound of 17% in May as stores opened up and restrictions were eased. Some retailers are reporting that the number of shoppers visiting stores, were not too dissimilar to December trading conditions. For the first time in a number of months online sales in May were in negative growth compared to April, yet online sales are still up 50% compared to April and May last year.
Customers returning to shop in physical stores are positive signs for all retailers, who have been weathering a very tough 2020, after a slow 2019. Let’s hope physical retailers take advantage of returning shoppers by providing an amazing in store experience they can’t get online. If not, it will push more customers to take advantage of the relative ease of buying online.
In another interview with Chris Ilsley from 6PR, Roger and Chris discuss these sales results and what physical retailers need to do to entice customers back into stores and keep them coming back.


text:
Emma Raducanu has netted another high profile endorsement deal after agreeing a partnership with Porsche to be an official brand ambassador.
Taking to Twitter, the British tennis star shared a photo of her standing next to a white Porsche 911 GT3 and captioned the post: “So happy to be part of the #PorscheFamily as an official Brand Ambassador! Ready for every moment our journey holds for us. #DreamersOn #ad.”
The US Open champion was also pictured with a £27,000 classic 911 Carerra 3.2.
Speaking about her new partnership with the renowned car manufacturer, she said: “Porsche has always been in my head. It is one of the brands that I’ve loved from a young age.
“One of my coaches had a 911 Targa. Yeah, cool coach. Whenever I would see him I would be like dreaming of one day sitting on my own.
“It’s important for me to align with partners and brands that I really feel passionate about and that I identify with.
“And I feel like because motorsports has always been a part of me, I think this partnership with Porsche is incredible.”
What are Raducanu’s other endorsements?
Since winning the US Open last year, the British number one has been catapulted into the limelight, which has made her a massive attraction to brands around the world.
Only last month, Raducanu netted a multi-million-pound partnership with communications giant Vodafone and will be the new ambassador of their “Play your way to Wimbledon” campaign.
Aside from that, the Brit is already sponsored by Nike for clothing and shoes, and by Wilson for tennis racquets.
She is also a brand ambassador for luxury brands, Tiffany and Dior, as well as Evian and British airways.
What is Raducanu’s net worth?
It’s hard to accurately establish Raducanu’s exact net worth, but PR specialists have predicted that the teenager could potentially be a billionaire one day.
From tournament prize money, the 19-year-old has already netted more than $3 million (£2.2m), including $2.5 million (£1.8m) from her US Open win alone.
n December 2021, the Express reported that Raducanu’s net worth is around £4 million but given her recent endorsements, this number could already be much bigger.


text:
Shares of Whirlpool of India hit a 52-week low of Rs 1,820, down 10 per cent on the BSE in Wednesday's intra-day amid growth concerns.
The stock of the consumer electronics company has seen huge trading activities with trading volumes on the counter jumping multiple-fold today. At 10:27 am, it was trading 6 per cent lower at Rs 1,901, as compared to a 1.3 per cent rise in the S&P BSE Sensex. A combined 1.65 million equity shares, representing 1.27 per cent of total equity of the company, had changed hands on the counter on the NSE and BSE till the time of writing of this report.
Since November 1, 2021, the stock has underperformed the market by falling 19 per cent after the company reported 39 per cent year-on-year (YoY) decline in its standalone net profit at Rs 78.50 crore for the quarter ended September 2021 (Q2FY22). In comparison, the S&P BSE Sensex was down 1.6 per cent during the same period.
Whirlpool of India said the fall in net profit during the quarter was due to supply chain volatility, unprecedented cost and fuel inflation, which was partially mitigated by price increase and cost productivity actions.
In Q2FY22, the company's total revenue from operations was up 0.05 per cent YoY at Rs 1,607 crore. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (ebitda) were down 29 per cent YoY at Rs 129 crore.
Further, the management had said the quarter saw headwinds on the cost and supply chain side. Growth was impacted by a high base effect and should recover as the economy opens up.
During the reported quarter, Whirlpool of India had acquired additional shareholding of 38.25 per cent in Elica PB India Private Limited for a consideration of Rs 424.8 crore taking its total shareholding in Elica India to 87.25 per cent. Upon the acquisition, Elica India has become a subsidiary of the Company.
Meanwhile, in the past one year, the stock has declined 9 per cent, as compared to 28 per cent rally in the S&P BSE Sensex.
"During Q2 and first half (April-September) of the financial year 2021-22 (H1FY22), Whirlpool underperformed the industry in washing machines (WMs). However, despite the weakness in Q2, Whirlpool managed to hold on to its refrigerators volume market share in H1FY22. In WM, its market share saw erosion in all time periods discussed," analysts at Emkay Global Financial Services said in consumer durables sector update.
Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance.
We, however, have a request.
As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed.
Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard.


text:
Direct marketing companies are taking advantage of legislative loopholes to make unsolicited robocalls to consumers – and software tools like Truecaller offer the only reliable protection available.
Automated phone calls, or robocalls, are prerecorded voice messages that an automated dialling system plays to a user when they answer a call.
The Protection of Personal Information Act (Popia) aims to shield consumers from unwanted calls from marketers by prohibiting the “processing of personal information of a data subject for the purpose of direct marketing by means of any form of electronic communication, including automated calling machines”.
There are exceptions to this rule, such as if the person being called has previously given permission to be contacted or is already a customer of the calling party.
Robocalls, however, are increasing in volume as some unscrupulous businesses take advantage of loopholes in the legislation to make any number of automated voice calls to unsuspecting consumers – apparently without consequence.
“If the automated calls are for the purposes of direct marketing, then these will fall within the scope of Popia. The law is clear in terms of automated calls. Where the law needs strengthening is on the definition of electronic communication,” said Mukelani Dimba, executive for education and communication at the Information Regulator. “This appears to be a section of Popia that has opened itself up to multiple interpretations, thus perpetuating the current scourge of unsolicited marketing phone calls.”
Robocalls, and all other direct marketing calls for that matter, fail to meet Popia’s definition of “electronic communication” because they are not “stored in the network or the user’s terminal equipment until collected by the data subject”. This means that automated callers may legally communicate with a data subject in real time but cannot leave a voicemail message. The Information Regulator said it is looking at tightening legislation around robocalls to address this.
“Robocalls and their sources are a subject of an ongoing investigation and therefore we would not want to disclose more information on this matter in order to preserve the integrity of our investigation,” said Dimba.
So where does this leave the consumer? Section 11 of the Consumer Protection Act (CPA) also provides protection against unsolicited marketing. In terms of that act, consumers can go to a central registry and opt out of direct communications of various forms, including automated spam calls, from individual companies or entire sectors. If contacted by marketers after opting out through the registry, consumers can approach the National Consumer Commission (NCC) to seek redress. However, the registry is yet to be implemented.
“Consumers should hang tight as we build the central registry that will help protect them against unsolicited marketing,” said NCC spokeswoman Phetho Ntaba. “It is something in the pipeline and we don’t have timelines as yet.”
A regulatory framework that is not yet fully developed, coupled with the lack of a central registry from the NCC, leaves the consumer with little choice but to devise tactics of their own in the fight against robocalls.
Smartphone apps like Truecaller, which can identify calls and also act as spam blockers, are a great first line of defence. Some users that TechCentral has spoken to report responding to robocalls by answering the call and then placing their device out of earshot, allowing the bot to speak into the ether while the “spammer” gets charged for a wasted call. — (c) 2023 NewsCentral Media


text:
“A new analysis suggests an Apple-Microsoft deal to bring Bing search to the iPhone could carry great risks for Apple, which has formed an identity by disparaging the Windows platform in its ‘Get a Mac’ ads,” Neil Hughes reports for AppleInsider.
“A team of analysts from Oppenheimer offered their insight in a research note to investors Wednesday,” Hughes reports. “Breaking down the implications of a Bing search agreement between Apple and Microsoft, the analysis was provided in response to an earlier report alleging that the two rivals are currently in talks to replace Google as the primary search provider for the iPhone, as well as the Safari browser.”
“Analyst Yair Reiner said the battle lines have been drawn between Apple and Google, though ‘overt warfare’ between the two companies has yet to erupt,” Hughes reports. “He said that the companies are at odds because Apple seeks to be the ‘special box in a world of generic services,’ while Google aims to become the ‘special service in a world of generic boxes.'”
MacDailyNews Take: Google’s mistake is in not working as closely as possible with Apple to become the “special service on Apple’s special box(es).”
Hughes reports, “Now, it’s possible, Apple’s enemy in Microsoft could become its friend with a Bing partnership. ‘Cozying up (to Microsoft) could bring more risk than reward, not least because it would clash with the Mac vs. PC campaign and the Apple brand identity that has coalesced around it,’ Reiner wrote.”
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Note: Currently, iPhone and iPod touch users have a choice of built-in search engines within Mobile Safari: Google or Yahoo (Settings>Safari>Search Engine) with Google being “on” by default on new Apple devices.
In addition, there are many Web Search apps available for iPhone and iPod touch. See them all via Apple’s iTunes App Store here.
Mac Safari users can easily install a plug-in such as the free Glims, to add multiple search engine choices to Safari.


text:
- Subscribe NowLimited Time Offer
Time: 6:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Place: The Ritz-Carlton, Dallas
Send this story to a friend
Velocis Fund LP buys $60M in Austin retail property
Dallas-based Velocis Fund LP has bought two Austin retail centers — West Woods Shopping Center and Springdale Shopping Center — that total more than 350,000 square feet of retail space. The properties are valued at $60 million.
This represented the fund's eight and ninth acquisitions of real estate properties, which gives the firm about $160 million in assets. Earlier this year, Velocis closed on its second fund.
The two retail properties are strong assets in an economically strong city, said Steve Lipscomb, a partner and co-founder of the real estate investment firm.
Last year, Velocis purchased a 112,117-square-foot Ridglea Village in Fort Worth.
Candace covers commercial and residential real estate and sports business.
If you are commenting using a Facebook account, your profile information may be displayed with your comment depending on your privacy settings. By leaving the 'Post to Facebook' box selected, your comment will be published to your Facebook profile in addition to the space below.
- Most popular
- 25 of the world's billionaires call Dallas-Fort Worth home
- RadioShack to close 1,100 stores as losses continue to grow
- Monday's ice will give way to a warmer Tuesday
- Cowboys legend is No. 12 on list of highest-paid retired athletes
- Luxury Preston Hollow spec mansion sells for $10.5M
- Southwest will launch two Mexican stops this August
- Holy guacamole! Chipotle considers
- Albertsons, Tom Thumb parent Safeway to merge in $9B deal
- Could EFH bankruptcy lead to a sale of Oncor?
- Virgin America going after gates at Love Field for five new stops


text:
Consumers Care About 3D at Home
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ.: Consumers are interested in receiving 3D in the home, In-Stat says. Those who have seen three or more 3D movies in the theater are more interested than the general respondents as are those who own Blu-ray players, the research firm said.
About 25 percent of those who are at least somewhat interested in having the ability to view 3D content at home, however, were unwilling to spend more money on a 3D TV. Another 43 percent were willing to spend $200 or less for a new 3DTV.
The situation was similar with Blu-ray players; 31 percent of respondents who were at least somewhat interested did not want to spend more for a 3D Blu-ray player. Another 33 percent wanted to spend less than a $50 premium for a 3D Blu-ray player over a 2D player.
In-Stat said it expects the price differential for 3D products will be higher than what the consumers in the survey indicated they wanted to pay, “so fewer consumers are likely to buy 3D equipment until prices decline.”
With regard to the content itself, 67 percent of respondents at least somewhat interested in 3D at home said they were willing to pay more for a 3D version of a Blu-ray disc over the 2D version. Most said they’d prefer to pay less than $5.
Get the TV Tech Newsletter
The professional video industry's #1 source for news, trends and product and tech information. Sign up below.


text:
RABAT (Reuters) – Morocco said on Monday it had signed deals for 26 auto industry projects worth a total of 1.23 billion euros ($1.45 billion) as it seeks to build its position as an international hub for the sector.
The deals include six agreements with French company Renault to expand an “industry ecosystem” allowing the firm to increase local sourcing of car components to 55 percent, according to a government statement.
Renault has a large factory in the northern Moroccan city of Tangiers that opened in 2012, and an older assembly plant in Casablanca.
Another 13 of the new projects are planned as part of a manufacturing hub linked to a PSA Peugeot Citroen factory under construction in Kenitra, north of the capital, Rabat.
That plant is due to open in 2019 and initially produce 90,000 vehicles a year.
The projects announced on Monday are with companies from France, Spain, Italy, China, South Korea, Japan and the United States, and are expected to create more than 11,500 jobs, the government statement said.
Eleven of the companies will be operating in Morocco for the first time, Abdel Wahid Rahal, a senior official at the ministry for industry, investment, trade and digital economy, told Reuters.
On Saturday, officials announced a memorandum of understanding with Chinese automaker BYD to build an electric car plant near Tangier that is expected to create 2,500 jobs. They gave no details on the value of the deal.
Unlike many countries in the region, Morocco has avoided a big drop in foreign investment following the global financial crisis and the Arab Spring uprisings of 2011, partly by marketing itself as an export base for Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
The kingdom has attracted a number of big auto and aerospace investors in recent years.
($1 = 0.8495 euros)
(Reporting by Zakia Abdennebi; Writing by Aidan Lewis; Editing by Peter Cooney)


text:
Acclaimed London-based, global thought leader and charismatic futurist Sarwant Singh, who consults with many of the world’s leading companies, will address the sector on the Future of the Automobile. A member of the World Economic Forum Transportation group, he sits on advisory boards of Nissan, ATI, Leeds University Business School and others, while his book New Mega Trends has since been sold in over 30 countries. Toyota, Ford and BMW are also high profile automotive companies he has consulted to.
Singh will share the stage with KPMG’s German-based Global Automotive leader Dieter Becker, renowned for producing the annual Global Automotive Executive Survey and leading research on emerging issues that impact the automotive and manufacturing industry.
South Africa’s OEMs will also be well represented in the line-up of speakers, who will address industry in eleven sessions over two days. Speakers confirmed are Volkswagen SA CEO Thomas Schaefer, Nissan SA CEO Mike Whitfield, Gladstone Mtyoko Divisional Manager at Mercedes Benz, Toyota CEO Andrew Kirby and Senior Vice President for Manufacturing Nigel Ward, Ford CEO Jeff Nemeth and the South African OEM Purchasing Council Chairman John Astbury. SA based OEMs will be amongst the exhibitors, in some cases highlighting localization success stories or opportunities, whilst also being part of a dedicated black supplier profiling process.
Topics at the conference include South Africa’s Automotive Vision and Masterplan, The Future of the Automobile, Manufacturing Best Practice, Transformation, Leadership and Logistics and Supply Chain Management.
National Association of Automobile Component and Allied Manufacturers (NAACAM) President Dave Coffey said the conference, featuring presentations, case studies and panel discussions on April 5 and 6 at the ICC in Durban, was scheduled to have keynote addresses from South Africa’s Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr Rob Davies as well as Minister of Economic Development, Mr Ebrahim Patel.
“The Conference is an essential part of the industry’s ability to engage with current happenings informing the trajectory of the automotive sector and the exhibition will be a unified expression of the South African value chain’s manufacturing capability,’’ Coffey said.
Other high-profile participants include Ethekwini Mayor Councillor Zandile Gumede, SP Metal Forgings MD Ken Manners, Sumitomo Rubber CEO Riaz Haffajee, National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) Secretary General Irvin Jim, Schaefler MD Marshal Myburgh, Automotive Industry Development Centre (AIDC) CEO Dr David Masondo, Automotive Masterplan Lead Dr Justin Barnes, Automotive Supply Chain Competitiveness Initiative (ASCCI) Chair Alex Holmes, NAACAM President Dave Coffey, Metair CEO Theo Loock, Transnet Chief Customer Officer Mike Fanucchi and Professor Anthony Black of University of Cape Town.


text:
Uncovering the Global Vegetarian Movement: How Many Vegetarians Are In The World?
The vegetarian movement is gaining traction around the world, with more people choosing to adopt a plant-based diet. But how many vegetarians are there in the world?
It’s difficult to pinpoint an exact figure due to varying definitions of what constitutes a vegetarian diet from country to country. However, an Ipsos Global Advisor survey found that 8% of adults worldwide follow a vegetarian diet.
In India, the highest percentage of vegetarians in the world can be found – over 40% of its population follows a vegetarian diet. In Europe, 11% of adults follow a plant-based lifestyle and in North America, 5%.
Vegetarianism is becoming increasingly popular among young people too – 13% of millennials identify as either vegetarian or vegan.
It’s clear that the global vegetarian movement is growing rapidly and looks set to continue doing so for years to come.
A Closer Look at the Growing Vegetarian Industry
The vegetarian movement is gaining momentum worldwide, with more people choosing to adopt a plant-based diet. According to a survey, 8% of adults globally follow a vegetarian diet, and the percentage is even higher in some countries. It’s no surprise that young people are especially embracing vegetarianism, with 13% of millennials identifying as either vegetarian or vegan.
In the United States alone, the number of vegetarians has grown significantly over the last decade – an estimated 10 million people following a vegetarian diet. This shift towards vegetarianism has also been reflected in the food industry – many restaurants and grocery stores now offer vegetarian options.
The growing demand for plant-based foods has led to an increase in sales of vegetarian products, with 8% growth in 2019 alone. This surge can be attributed to a variety of factors such as increasing health consciousness among consumers, environmental concerns, and the rising popularity of veganism. Companies are investing heavily in developing new products and expanding existing offerings to meet consumer demand. Not only are there more food products available for vegetarians but also meat alternatives such as plant-based burgers and sausages.
The growing market for vegetarian products has also created opportunities for businesses catering specifically to vegetarians and vegans. From restaurants to clothing stores, there’s something for everyone who wants to explore this lifestyle.
It’s clear that the global vegetarian movement is here to stay!
Celebrating World Vegetarian Day and Its Impact on Our Planet
World Vegetarian Day is a great opportunity to celebrate the positive impact that vegetarianism has on our planet. Every year on October 1st, people around the world come together to recognize this important day and the benefits of plant-based diets.
The goal of World Vegetarian Day is to promote sustainable eating practices and reduce environmental damage caused by animal agriculture. Studies have shown that vegetarian diets require fewer resources than non-vegetarian diets, making them more sustainable for our planet. Eating more plant-based foods can also help reduce food waste, since plant foods often use fewer resources to produce than animal foods.
Not only are vegetarian diets good for the environment, but they also offer numerous health benefits. A plant-based diet has been linked with a lower risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease and cancer. On World Vegetarian Day, why not try out some delicious vegetarian recipes or explore new plant-based options in your local grocery store or restaurant?
It’s time to recognize the power of vegetarianism and its potential to create a healthier, greener world!
Exploring the Environmental Benefits of a Vegetarian Diet
World Vegetarian Day is an opportunity to recognize the positive impact that vegetarianism can have on the environment. Eating a vegetarian diet can help reduce water and land use, as well as air and water pollution. Plant-based foods require less energy to produce than animal products, and consuming fewer animal products reduces methane production from livestock which is a major contributor to climate change.
It’s clear that vegetarian diets have environmental benefits, so why not join the movement? Even if you don’t want to go completely meat-free, you can still make a difference by reducing your consumption of animal products and increasing your intake of plant-based foods. Every little bit helps!
Examining Global Vegetarian Statistics in 2021 and Beyond
World Vegetarian Day is an opportunity to recognize the positive impact that vegetarianism can have on the environment. Globally, vegetarianism is becoming increasingly popular, with an estimated 400 million people around the world following a plant-based diet.
In 2021, it is estimated that 10% of the global population is vegetarian or vegan. In the United States, there has been a steady rise in vegetarianism over the past few years and it is now estimated that 3 million more Americans are following a plant-based diet than in 2018.
In Europe, Germany and Italy have seen some of the highest rates of vegetarianism with nearly 20% of their populations avoiding meat. India has by far the highest percentage of vegetarians in Asia, with an estimated 40% of its population choosing to follow a plant-based diet. Australia has also seen significant growth in vegetarianism over the past decade, with 8% of Australians now opting for a meat-free lifestyle.
Looking to the future, it is expected that global vegetarianism will continue to grow as people become more aware of the health and environmental benefits associated with plant-based diets. With World Vegetarian Day taking place annually on October 1st, it’s an ideal time to reflect on our dietary choices and consider how we can make sustainable changes for ourselves and for our planet.
20 Groundbreaking Stats about the Rise of Vegetarianism for 2022
World Vegetarian Day is an important day to recognize the positive impact that vegetarianism can have on the environment. Globally, vegetarianism is becoming increasingly popular, with an estimated 400 million people around the world following a plant-based diet. The number of vegetarians in the US alone has increased by more than 50% since 2012, with about 3.3 million Americans identifying as vegetarian and 8.6 million identifying as “flexitarian” or those who eat meat occasionally.
The trend of vegetarianism is only expected to continue rising in the next decade, with some estimates predicting that it could reach 10 million by 2022. This shift towards plant-based diets can be attributed to a variety of factors, including environmental concerns and health benefits associated with vegetarianism. A study conducted by the University of Oxford found that if everyone went vegetarian, global greenhouse gas emissions would be reduced by 63%. Plant-based diets are also associated with a lower risk of heart disease and diabetes, as well as a reduced risk of obesity and other chronic diseases according to a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
The growing popularity of vegetarianism isn’t limited to just vegetarians themselves – it seems that even those who don’t identify as vegan or vegetarian are making changes to their diets. A survey conducted by Faunalytics found that almost half (47%) of Americans are reducing their meat consumption or eating more plant-based foods than they did five years ago. Younger generations are driving this trend, with 60% of millennials saying they have reduced their meat consumption in the last five years and over half (52%) now identifying as either vegan or vegetarian.
This shift in dietary habits has been reflected in sales figures for both animal-based and plant-based foods – in 2019, sales of plant-based foods rose 11%, while sales of animal-based foods only increased 1%. It’s clear from these figures that people are increasingly turning away from animal products and towards plant-based alternatives when it comes to their diets – a trend which looks set to continue into 2022 and beyond!
Must-Know Facts and Figures About Vegetarianism in 2022 (Editor’s Pick)
The vegetarian and vegan lifestyle is on the rise, with environmental concerns and health benefits associated with plant-based diets driving the trend. Here are 7 must-know facts and figures about vegetarianism in 2022 that you should be aware of:
• In the United States, it is expected that 8.3 million people will identify as vegetarian or vegan by 2022, up from 3.2 million in 2018 – representing 10% of the population, compared to 6% in 2018.
• Millennials and Gen Z make up a large portion of those who follow a vegetarian or vegan diet – indicating that this trend is likely to continue into the future.
• Global sales of plant-based foods are projected to reach $74 billion by 2023, an increase from $51 billion in 2018.
• The global market for meat substitutes is also growing rapidly, with projections estimating it will reach $19.5 billion by 2025 – up from $4.2 billion in 2017.
• By 2022, more than half (51%) of all restaurants will offer at least one vegan option on their menu according to research conducted by the Good Food Institute.
• The global plant-based meat industry is expected to be worth $140 billion by 2029 – a huge increase from its current value of $14 billion in 2019.
As the world continues to grapple with the effects of climate change, more and more people are recognizing the benefits of a vegetarian lifestyle. With World Vegetarian Day just around the corner, it’s an ideal time to celebrate the positive impact that vegetarianism can have on our planet.
Recent surveys suggest that 8% of adults worldwide follow a vegetarian diet, with 13% of millennials opting for either a vegan or vegetarian lifestyle. This number is expected to rise in coming years, with an estimated 400 million people globally following a plant-based diet by 2022. Here in the United States, the number of vegetarians and vegans is projected to increase from 3.2 million in 2018 to 8.3 million in 2022 – representing 10% of the population.
Adopting a vegetarian lifestyle has numerous benefits for both individuals and society at large. For instance, cutting out animal products reduces our carbon footprint significantly as factory farming produces large amounts of greenhouse gases such as methane and nitrous oxide which contribute to global warming. Additionally, plant-based diets are typically healthier than diets that include animal products, they are low in saturated fat and cholesterol and high in fiber, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.
World Vegetarian Day is an opportunity for us all to recognize the positive impact that vegetarianism can have on our environment and health – both now and into the future. So this October 1st, why not join millions around the world in celebrating this important day?


text:
A reliable source who tends to accurately guess Apple’s plans year after year has suggested the Cupertino company is exploring a foldable MacBook while also delaying the release of a foldable iPhone.
Ross Young, an analyst for Display Supply Chain Consultants (DSCC), tends to report on all-things supply chain-related – much like another analyst, Ming-Chi Kuo. Both are very trusted sources of information on Apple’s product pipeline. Last year, Young was the first to report that the 2021 MacBook Pro refreshes would feature mini-LED displays with ProMotion.
Now, based on conversations with his supply chain sources, Young has revealed the DSCC has delayed its expectations for a foldable iPhone to 2025. That is a two-year adjustment from the previously reported timeline of launching in 2023. Young noted in his report that Apple “does not appear to be in a hurry” to enter the foldable smartphone market any time soon.
Interestingly, Young said Apple is instead investigating a foldable laptop – perhaps even a model with a large 20-inch screen. This so-called foldable MacBook is described as a “dual-use product, a notebook with a full-size keyboard when folded and for use as a monitor when not folded and used with an external keyboard”. It may even support 4K UHD.
The time frame for the 20-inch foldable is likely later than 2025, possibly 2026 or 2027. Apple is reportedly talking to suppliers, but the product is still years away.


text:
WASHINGTON — On July 18 and 19, the US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), detailed two countries showing significant promise for US pet food processors seeking to export their products: China and Singapore.
The world’s fastest growing pet food importer
According to the FAS, US dog and cat food exports to China hit a new record of $264 million in 2022, making China the second-largest export market for the United States, just second to Canada. The cause of this? A rising pet population.
The country’s dog and cat population rose from 69 million in 2021 to 186 million in 2022, according to Euromonitor International. During the same period, China’s total dog and cat food imports increased from $10 million to $672 million, making it the world’s fastest-growing importer, according to the FAS.
The United States has made itself China’s top dog food and cat food supplier in just two years, according to the FAS. Additionally, US exports to China have already reached $139 million from January 2023 to May 2023 — that’s more than double compared to the same period in 2022.
Read more about exporting to China.
Potential for increased market share
According to the FAS, Singapore imports more than 90% of its food products and has a very diverse variety of trading partners. The United States exported about $1.4 billion of agricultural products to the country in 2022, making it Singapore’s third-largest agricultural exporter behind Malaysia and the European Union.
The country’s GDP in 2022 was $91,100 USD with a population of 5.7 million, according to the International Monetary Fund. With such high-income, consumers in Singapore are considered tech-savvy. According to Euromonitor, 94% of the population used the internet and nearly half (42%) used it to buy and sell goods in 2022. Additionally, in 2022, 59% of businesses in Singapore used the internet to place and receive orders. Such a tech-savvy population has also led to the growth of e-commerce in the country, with grocery e-commerce sales increasing 30% between 2017 and 2022.
All this has led to steady growth for imports of dog and cat food products. During the pandemic, pet ownership throughout Singapore steadily rose, but has recently begun to slow. Despite this, pet owners in the country have embraced the humanization of pets, treating their companions as members of their family and demanding healthy and innovative pet nutrition products.
According to the FAS, the country imported $69.2 million worth of dog and cat food products from all over the world in 2022, a steady increase from $43.7 million in 2018.
Pet food competition is fierce in Singapore. According to Euromonitor, there are more than 20 dog food companies in the country, and none of these companies hold more than 8% of pet food sales. Additionally, the cat food market is believed to be even more concentrated. Despite this, the United States exported $15.9 million in dog and cat food in 2022, up 17% from 2021. The United States currently holds a 23% market share in Singapore’s pet food market, just second to Thailand.
The retail value of cat food sales in Singapore is set to increase 7% in 2023 with e-commerce serving an imperative role in retail distribution. The retail value of dog food sales is expected to increase 6% in 2023 with consumers specifically interested in premium and innovative pet food products.
Find more articles related to pet food export opportunities and trade.


text:
Shoppers who visit the Mall of America in Bloomington may be accustomed by now to the traffic jams on Lindau Lane and to the no man's land of traffic and surface parking that separates the mall from the nearby IKEA store.
All of that is about to change. Lindau Lane, the road that borders the mall on the north side, will run underneath the complex. The mall itself will spread toward IKEA, which eventually will have a skyway connection.
But a bigger megamall does not mean a less crowded one. If projections hold true, the current herd of 40 million shoppers will increase by as much as 50 percent. The mall is already biggest single tourism attraction in the state.
"Our goal in expanding Mall of America is to enhance the tourism draw for the state, because it's a huge export for our state and a very important economic driver here," said Maureen Bausch, the mall's executive vice president of business development. "I think one out of every nine jobs are related to tourism in this state."
(State tourism figures suggest 11 percent of the private workforce is employed in travel- and tourism-related work.)
"We'll be drawing anywhere between 10 million to 20 million more visits from tourists," Bausch told Daily Circuit co-host Tom Weber. "We also employ today 13,000 to 15,000 people in the mall, depending on the season. And we generate $3 billion-$4 billion in economic impact for the state every year."
The mall's economic impact, said Bloomington Mayor Gene Winstead, justifies the diversion of tax revenue that otherwise would have gone into the state's fiscal disparities pool.
The Legislature's decision to make the funds available "made a lot of sense due to the great regional impact that the mall has," Winstead said. "You have to understand that Bloomington has been the very largest contributor into this pool for more than 40 years now." He said the money would be used for infrastructure and parking.
Weber asked Bausch whether the mall's chief competition came from other malls in the Twin Cities or from other megamalls around the world.
"Actually, both," she said. "And also other tourism destinations and attractions, like Disney or Universal. They are our competition for family vacation spending. Certainly, internationally we compete with other large cities for the shopping trip. And right now, actually for a pure shopping experience, we rate No. 1 in the country, and that's against some awfully big cities."
She alluded to another success at the Legislature this year, from the mall's perspective:
"People do enjoy coming here. No sales tax on clothing is a huge driver in that, particularly when it snows in May," she said.
The expansion project got a last-minute boost when the tax break passed the Minnesota Legislature.
The project is expected to make the mall twice as big. Plans also call for a water park, more stores and new hotels. The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community announced last week that it is considering investing in a new luxury hotel as part of the project.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE MALL'S EXPANSION PLANS:
The Mall of America has released a gallery of images showing the expansion plans.


text:
The ASEAN+3 Macro Economic Research Office (AMRO) has recently shared Cambodia's positive trend of the economic growth with low inflation rate.
According to AMRO's ASEAN+3 Regional Economic Outlook 2020, the Cambodian GDP will grow at 7.0 percent while the inflation rate will drop from 2.5 in 2019 to 2.1 percent in 2020.
Cambodia's economic growth expectation for this year is slightly lower than that of Myanmar (7.1 percent). For the inflation rate, Cambodia will be better than China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Vietnam.
Source: Agency Kampuchea Press


text:
Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. today announced plans for its fourth BlizzCon gaming convention, to be held at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California on Friday, August 21 and Saturday, August 22. BlizzCon is a celebration of the global player communities surrounding Blizzard Entertainment's Warcraft, StarCraft, and Diablo universes. In response to the festival's increasing popularity, this year's event has been expanded from three convention halls to four.
"We've been amazed by the incredible response to each of our previous BlizzCon events," said Mike Morhaime, CEO and cofounder of Blizzard Entertainment. "We're pleased to be bringing the convention back to Anaheim this year, and we look forward to this new opportunity to meet Blizzard gamers from around the world."
BlizzCon will offer a wide variety of activities throughout the two-day event. In addition to serving as a gathering place for Blizzard Entertainment gaming communities, attendees will be able to enjoy:
Hands-on play time with upcoming Blizzard Entertainment games
Discussion panels with Blizzard Entertainment developers
Competitive and casual tournaments for players to showcase their talents
Community contests with great prizes
Commemorative merchandise based on Blizzard Entertainment's game universes
A silent auction
More exciting activities and attractions to be announced.
Further details, including ticket availability and pricing, will be announced on the official BlizzCon website, www.blizzcon.com, as the event draws closer.